But it is cheaper than Edinburgh, Amsterdam or Beirut in a league of more than 60 cities worldwide recommended to shoestring sightseers.

The travel guide publisher devotes four pages to Dublin in its latest book, The Best Things In Life Are Free - a money-saving guide for tourists.

The cost of an average day is worked out to include one night in mid-range accommodation, three reasonably priced meals, entry to one cultural attraction, one day's travel and one pint of beer or glass of wine.

"Ireland's capital is a charismatic and occasionally confounding city, where high culture and light-hearted craic go hand-in-hand, and history is literally etched into every corner," it states.

"Locals are generous of spirit and garrulous by nature, and in the legendary public houses, the iconic black stout runs freely ... but rarely cheaply."

Highlights in the city are "meeting locals, inhaling history and imbibing black beer", it tells readers.

Recommended free or "almost free" attractions include the capital's museums and galleries, Trinity College Dublin and the old Houses of Parliament on College Green.

The guide also suggests cycling and walking around the city as well as taking a dip in the legendary Forty Foot swimming hole at Sandycove.

Glasnevin Cemetery and Phoenix Park are also mentioned.

The only other attraction in Ireland to make the guide is the Poulnabrone Dolmen "on the breathtakingly bleak Burren on Ireland's western flank" in Co Clare.